Hmm, I can actually use that screenshot function -- I've had occasions to report content bugs to Amazon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/metamatt/sets/72157621405598829/). This beats cameraphone pictures by a long shot.

1. Kindle sucks.2. eBooks are still too expensive compared to physical books. They cost the same!3. Get a netbook. It does more than a Kindle, costs less or the same (depending on the netbook, Acer One is cheaper), it can do more than a "lamzor" kindle, and it doesn't have pesky and immoral DRM.4. Real men don't use DRM.5. I like making lists.

Also eInk is okay, but it needs to get better as shown by the screenshots the first commenter posted. I can barely read it due to the low contrast which is far worse than even a cheap paperback! I'd need to use the screenshot function to transfer the files to a computer to read

I love my Kindle. It has increased my reading time, which is nice.However, I love the "screensaver" that comes built into the Kindle - Some of the pictures are gorgeous. (Particularly the one of the Book of Kells.) Putting my own pictures on would be nice, but how can I make a mixture of both and/or how can I access the original pictures on the Kindle?

FYI for those who want to put their own pictures on the kindle I found this utility called Mangle that will automatically re-size your pictures to fit your kindle, as well as turn them into the proper gray scale for the kindle.

This is an Open Source program released under the GNU public license. It was originally made for converting comics into a readable format on the kindle. I have found it to work very well for making screen savers and such.

Originally posted by patent.drafter:A screen-saver. For e-ink. Which doesn't have burn-in, and drains power only when the image refreshes (unlike the continuous drain of, say, LED / LCD / CRT displays).

Nice. Real good implementation of the new technology, there.

Perhaps this is a fine example of artificial obsolescence - so you have to replace the (expensive) battery faster?

The "screen saver" just displays a single picture when the device is turned off. It's not a true screen saver as much as a way to lock the screen when the device is not in use. Basically you turn the device off, there is one last refresh and the device displays a picture. That same picture will be displayed until you turn the device back on again.

Screen saver is probably an incorrect term in this case. Anyway, the image doesn't change. When the device sleeps, it puts up a random image that stays there until you awaken it, so your power draw is basically one page refresh. You've got bigger battery worries if you've left whispernet on, as that drains the battery even when the device is asleep

iluvtek:

1. YOU suck2. For new release hardcover books, the kindle version generally costs about $9-$10, while the dead tree version can cost over $20, that's a significant savings3. Have you tried to read a book on a netbook screen? first, the orientation is wrong. Second, you won't be able to get through a 500 page novel on one battery charge. Third it will take about 3 times as much space in your backpack as a kindle 2.4. Those 80's "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche" dudes want their meme back.5. I really shouldn't feed trolls.

Trick: Create a "pictures" directory and add pictures in sub folders to create picture books. Once you transport them over via USB you press Alt+Z from the home screen to refresh your book listing and you should see your picture folders listed now. This is also how you can transfer over scanlations and graphic novel conversions (which Mangle is specifically designed to help with - here's my rundown on using it: http://bit.ly/189tT4).

A common misconception is that the Kindle itself is DRM'd. It isn't. It's the content from Amazon that has DRM(although they just added 18000 public domain books to their offering which obviously doesn't have DRM (and could be pulled from other sources but getting it from Amazon offers automatic backup)). I have over 100 books on my Kindle and only some of them have DRM from Amazon store(the others are epub or mobi format from other sources).

Think of it as the iPod/iTunes combination. The device itself wasn't DRM laden since I could play any MP3 or AAC I had, it was the content from the providers.

Plus, most non-techie consumers don't care about DRM. As long as they have an easy way to purchase content they are typically happy (again... see iTunes store success long before they went DRM free). I don't like DRM but most consumers just don't care about it unless it affects them directly.

I love my Kindle but agree that eBooks aren't for everyone. Those who are critical need to try one for an extended period to really get a true feeling for it (and there are some very cool ereaders coming out now).

I don't get why people hate on the Kindle/Amazon so much, I just picked up a K2 2 weeks ago, and I must say it reminds me of picking up and using the first/second gen iPod(and later iTunes Music Store), yea DRM sucks, but it's the bait companies need to use to get content providers on board, I'm hoping(not holding my breathe) that Amazon does the same thing Apple/iTunes did, especially since Amazon made such a big deal about their DRM-free MP3 store.

Kindle will definitely be better if/when there's an easy way to get new content other than buying it full price.

The reason iTunes (well, music on computers, for which iTunes is a pretty good proxy) took off was it was easy to import your whole existing music collection onto the computer to start with, then as time goes on, you can buy more music as downloads, or as physical media which can be imported into the computer.

For Kindle, the problem isn't just the DRM, it's that there's no way to convert your existing book library into ebook format. If there was a way to prove you own a bunch of books and have those show up on the Kindle too, it would be a lot more attractive.

Screensavers!? Finally, a way for me to kill my battery without even using the device!Correct me if I'm wrong here, but wouldn't a screensaver entirely undermine the benefit of an e-ink display, that it uses no power except to redraw?

Originally posted by Esotericman:Screensavers!? Finally, a way for me to kill my battery without even using the device!Correct me if I'm wrong here, but wouldn't a screensaver entirely undermine the benefit of an e-ink display, that it uses no power except to redraw?

Dude. Read the other comments. Or at least, uh, know what you're talking about before you speak. Dude.

Originally posted by iluvtek:1. Kindle sucks.2. eBooks are still too expensive compared to physical books. They cost the same!3. Get a netbook. It does more than a Kindle, costs less or the same (depending on the netbook, Acer One is cheaper), it can do more than a "lamzor" kindle, and it doesn't have pesky and immoral DRM.4. Real men don't use DRM.5. I like making lists.

Agreed.

There is no kindle hate. Just people seeing it for what it is - an overpriced gadget with deliberately limited functionality.

I don't understand how is the functionality limited. I have several books on my kindle that I did not purchase from Amazon, including PDF books that came with some of the tech manuals I have, text files of free books, and rtf and word documents from my work (contracts, and technical documents for clients).

None of those files have anything to do with Amazon, yet I can still read them via the Kindle.

The cost of an ebook is less than the cost of the printed book. Usually by a few dollars regarding a book in print on paperback, and usually the cost is significantly less than a book in hardback.

The book costs $7.99 new, and $6.39 on the kindle. Not a lot of savings, however considering you buy the book for life, you can download it multiple times, and if you have more than one kindle tied to your amazon account you can download it on multiple kindle devices. In my case both me and my wife each have a kindle, and when I purchase a book she can pull it down on her kindle, even though it's on mine.

For me it's not about DRM, DRM should never inconvenience me. In my opinion when DRM gets in my way, someone has failed. The DRM for the kindle is very easy to work with. When my first kindle's screen failed Amazon shipped me another kindle, and i just re-downloaded my books...

Originally posted by metamatt:Kindle will definitely be better if/when there's an easy way to get new content other than buying it full price.

The reason iTunes (well, music on computers, for which iTunes is a pretty good proxy) took off was it was easy to import your whole existing music collection onto the computer to start with, then as time goes on, you can buy more music as downloads, or as physical media which can be imported into the computer.

For Kindle, the problem isn't just the DRM, it's that there's no way to convert your existing book library into ebook format. If there was a way to prove you own a bunch of books and have those show up on the Kindle too, it would be a lot more attractive.

If you already have a DRM-free digital book, you're very likely going to be able to convert it and read it on a Kindle. But if you expect to import your analog library, you're just as SOL as the people who used Records, Tapes, VHS tapes, Laserdiscs and whatever else. They had to repurchase digital versions before importing into iTunes (or watch on a computer).

quote:

Also eInk is okay, but it needs to get better as shown by the screenshots the first commenter posted. I can barely read it due to the low contrast which is far worse than even a cheap paperback! I'd need to use the screenshot function to transfer the files to a computer to read

Yeah, the pictures in his link look like shit. But the Ars screenshots are clear as day though. Notice you didn't mention that!

I'm betting the commentor's are camera pics, or just reduced/compressed to oblivion. I have the original Sony Reader, and it's the oldest e-Ink screen. It looks a billion times better than those pics. You need to see the Kindle/Reader/Illiad/other e-Ink in real life to judge, not a screenshot of the screen. That's like deciding a TV has good color calibration by looking a picture of the TV on your computer!

And, man, I am still shocked how people just do not understand that e-Ink is totally different than a backlit LCD. There is always someone who says "buy a netbook/computer/phone/iPod/PSP/etc." in these threads, and has no idea that the Kindle et. al. are completely different screen technologies.

Originally posted by Esotericman:Screensavers!? Finally, a way for me to kill my battery without even using the device!Correct me if I'm wrong here, but wouldn't a screensaver entirely undermine the benefit of an e-ink display, that it uses no power except to redraw?

Dude. Read the other comments. Or at least, uh, know what you're talking about before you speak. Dude.

Wait. I have the exact same question, and I'm a Sony Reader owner. I don't know how the screensaver works on the Kindle, but if the image is changing, it will burn the battery because the redraw is when there's drain.

quote:

Originally posted by JabberWockey:

quote:

Originally posted by iluvtek:1. Kindle sucks.2. eBooks are still too expensive compared to physical books. They cost the same!3. Get a netbook. It does more than a Kindle, costs less or the same (depending on the netbook, Acer One is cheaper), it can do more than a "lamzor" kindle, and it doesn't have pesky and immoral DRM.4. Real men don't use DRM.5. I like making lists.

Agreed.

There is no kindle hate. Just people seeing it for what it is - an overpriced gadget with deliberately limited functionality.

Yeah, a list that starts with "Kindle sucks" means there is no Kindle hate!

He is wrong on every single count, and really shows his ignorance by comparing an e-Ink device to a backlit LCD. If that's not Kindle hate, it's complete and total Kindle ignorance.

Seriously, have either of you even seen or used a Kindle 2 before judging it?

Originally posted by EatingPie:Wait. I have the exact same question, and I'm a Sony Reader owner. I don't know how the screensaver works on the Kindle, but if the image is changing, it will burn the battery because the redraw is when there's drain.

The term "screensaver" is really a misnomer; when left unattended or when shut off the Kindle brings up a static screen from the available images. There is no refresh/updating of the image. So basically the power cost is equal to a single page refresh.

Rare are the comments that sway me, but some of the comments here have me a little more interested in the Kindle and have helped me figure out my biggest impediments to purchasing one (other than trying to justify the cash outlay).

My biggest issue is the transfer of content. The above commenter who pointed out that books and CDs aren't in the same class, but rather previously owned digital books and CDs is right. But, with LPs/Cassettes/etc, it is possible to output the audio to your computer and convert the resultant file to a PMP compatible format. With books, it just isn't feasible. I suppose I could scan the book, but the time and effort for me to scan Ender's Game would be significantly greater than importing and converting The Wall to AAC. I have what I consider a large library, and I would like to take as much of it as I can.

My second issue is the acquisition of content. If it were possible to check Kindle-compatible books out of my library electronically with direct delivery, it would increase my interest further. I normally go through a couple books a week on my commute, and buying books isn't nearly as cost effective as borrowing them from the library. Directly related is the ease of use of the electronic checkout process, but that is a function of my library, and not the Kindle or Kindle ecosystem.

The tech behind the Kindle is maturing, and I think it could fill the needs of a large segment of the population. I don't know if it will ever be in a position to dominate society the way that PMPs have, but acceptance will rise. It won't replace books the way that some rabid Kindlefans think it will, but the market will prove the naysayers foolish. The prime obstacles in Amazon's path aren't the hardware, but in developing an ecosystem that people can live with.

I've used my co-workers Kindle. It's a cool device. The iPhone app is the best eReader I've used (well, it's better than MobiPocket). But I see no need to spend an extra $250 on a device when my iPhone does all I need in this arena. I save on bag space and I save money and everyone's happy.

What do you not like about yours?2. eBooks are still too expensive compared to physical books. They cost the same!

I've found they are a little bit less, and I find a lot of free books as well. An author told me he actually makes a bit more on books sold through Kindle than he does on physical books, so Amazon is passing it along.

3. Get a netbook. It does more than a Kindle, costs less or the same (depending on the netbook, Acer One is cheaper), it can do more than a "lamzor" kindle, and it doesn't have pesky and immoral DRM.

I'm on my second Kindle, having given my first to my son. And bought a Kindle for my other son. I also have an Acer netbook and a Macbook, at home, an iPhone (with Kindle on it), and a nice Dell laptop at my office. Your point?

Kindle "screensavers" do not refresh, therefore they do not draw down the battery.

Why have one? The primary reason is so that you don't accidentally hit one or more buttons that might set you down at a location that is one side or the other of where you were actually reading. When I'm putting my Kindle down for a minute or two, I lock the screen (which brings up the screensaver). Not to save my screen, but to save my place in the book without creating a bookmark.

The second reason, and the best reason I can think of to hack the screensaver, is that my own screensaver image is a bookplate with my name, address and phone number, just in case someone remotely honest finds my Kindle after I have lost it.

As for digital books, the Kindle reads more than one digital format. The user is not limited to books purchased at the Amazon.com Kindle Store. There are many places online to purchase reading material for the Kindle, and many more where you can download public domain material for free. In addition, the Kindle Store quite often makes books available for free. You simply have to be aware of when the freebies are there. (One of the reasons so many Kindle owners are also members of Mobileread.)

I don't give my credence to the people who start their posts with "Kindle sucks." The reason for that is simply because I have never read one that wasn't full of incorrect information.

Originally posted by Grilgar:I've used my co-workers Kindle. It's a cool device. The iPhone app is the best eReader I've used (well, it's better than MobiPocket). But I see no need to spend an extra $250 on a device when my iPhone does all I need in this arena. I save on bag space and I save money and everyone's happy.

I like my iPhone, but not for reading, at least not for reading over the long term. In order to bring the text into focus I generally have to read with one eye or the other, but not both. That puts a lot of strain on my eyes.

However, I am an old fart, and failing eyesight is simply what happens as you age. That is another reason that I love digital readers (whether from Amazon or Sony) ... you can change the font size and still get a fair number of words on a page. If I was able to increase the font on my iPhone to a size that worked well for me, I'd be reading two or three words at a time. That, and the battery life of the iPhone (which is ultra brief compared to a digital reader) make it less than ideal (IMO, of course) as a reader.

Seriously - no tricks. I've loaded up some music on mine (the original Kindle) but haven't changed the screensavers. I've converted a number of things to Kindle format for my use.

There are also plenty of free books for the Kindle. I bolded that because I get fucking tired of people saying "oh the prices". For many books, the price is $9.99 or less. Yes, there are books that don't fit that price profile, but they're in the minority.

Feel free to hate it, love it, or snark on it. But it does fill a great little niche for a number of people. Or maybe I should hate the iPhone because I won't subscribe to AT&T?

Originally posted by nbs2:Rare are the comments that sway me, but some of the comments here have me a little more interested in the Kindle and have helped me figure out my biggest impediments to purchasing one (other than trying to justify the cash outlay).

My biggest issue is the transfer of content. The above commenter who pointed out that books and CDs aren't in the same class, but rather previously owned digital books and CDs is right. But, with LPs/Cassettes/etc, it is possible to output the audio to your computer and convert the resultant file to a PMP compatible format. With books, it just isn't feasible. I suppose I could scan the book, but the time and effort for me to scan Ender's Game would be significantly greater than importing and converting The Wall to AAC. I have what I consider a large library, and I would like to take as much of it as I can.

The good news here is a lot of people have done the work already. There are several places you can find scanned versions of (MANY!) books, particularly science fiction. Even out-of-print books that are almost impossible to find via "standard" routes. So you don't need to do the scan yourself... for example, there are at least 3 different versions of scanned Ender's Game. And there are utilities to convert from one format to another if a Kindle-specific one doesn't already exist.

These types of downloads are obviously illegal, so it's up to your own conscience. I just wanted to make sure you knew "pirate" scans exist (and are usually very accurate), and probably duplicate some or much of your library, depending on your preferred genre.

If you're shopping, I personally recommend the Sony Reader series because they are trying to fight Amazon with EPUB... which more stores sell. This way your device/content isn't locked to a single provider (like the Kindle/Amazon store). And your local Best Buy probably has some to check out just to get a sense of the experience (the PRS-600 is closest to the Kindle, with the PRS-300 being a smaller reader with generally sharper text).

According to R. R. Bowker’s Pubtrack 2008 Consumer Book Survey, book purchasing is becoming more concentrated among avid book buyers, defined as those who purchase a minimum of 12 books per year.

Standing tallest are older Americans—the Baby Boomers and “Matures” born prior to 1965. These groups constitute 54% of the U.S. population but account for 67% of all book purchases.

This skew likely will trend beyond 70% as the 78 million Boomers downshift into retirement and find themselves with greater leisure time for reading and browsing.--It’s all well and good for journalists to write about how the Kindle isn’t cool because young kids aren’t toting it around. Who cares?

eReaders are meant for people who read books and buy books. Most of those people are Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation. Perhaps it’s time we stopped trying to make eReaders sexy and just made them work for the people who want them.

Amazon is the only company that seems to have gotten the memo.

No wonder the Kindle was the device that finally ignited ebook sales. Everyone else was trying to create a sexy reading device for people who didn’t read and didn’t care.

I'm sure a lot of it is true, but the last paragraph is not. Good design is good design, and it's necessary regardless of who your target market is.

Amazon wasn't the only one to "get the memo," Sony was the first major company out the gate with an e-Reader. But they are not a book seller. Amazon is. So when Amazon came out with the Kindle, the choice was obvious: An e-Reader linked with the world's largest bookstore! They had Sony's ass kicked on that alone. And even though the Kindle 1 was a design nightmare, I still recommended it over the Sony due to Amazon being a huge bookstore, and their obvious clout with Publishers.

That is the real reason the Kindle ignited e-Book sales: People just knew there would be e-Books for it, as they'd already been buying books there for ages anyway. Sony didn't have that advantage, and that's why they are (wisely) moving to EPUB... allowing you to buy books from any bookstore (except Amazon of course).

My favorite trick? Check out the Magic Catalog of Project Gutenberg e-Books. It's the Gutenberg catalog with hotlinks to MOBI (Kindle-compatible) versions of the books. Put it on your Kindle. Then, you can turn on the wireless and search for the book you want (or the author, for that matter). When your desired result is found, open it in the Magic Catalog and click. You'll download it via that free wireless web access. No cost.

Originally posted by metamatt:Kindle will definitely be better if/when there's an easy way to get new content other than buying it full price.

The reason iTunes (well, music on computers, for which iTunes is a pretty good proxy) took off was it was easy to import your whole existing music collection onto the computer to start with, then as time goes on, you can buy more music as downloads, or as physical media which can be imported into the computer.

For Kindle, the problem isn't just the DRM, it's that there's no way to convert your existing book library into ebook format. If there was a way to prove you own a bunch of books and have those show up on the Kindle too, it would be a lot more attractive.